The constant uncertainty of a startup can be somewhat quelled by enlisting the talents of an experienced startup consultant who can share his/her expertise and provide advice that will help point your business towards success. While it can be helpful to use a consultant with experience in your industry it isn’t necessary.

When you first open your business, you may be full of optimism. It may even be a smashing success for the first few months or even years. However, every company faces difficult times.

Today’s business world is extremely competitive. There are fewer barriers to entry, and it is easier for anyone to build a website or sell products online through marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon. In an ideal world, strategic planning and strong leadership could prevent a rough patch from happening. But, as a business owner, you may know firsthand that some factors are simply out of your control. The economy could take a turn for the worse or the market could shrink. It’s not a matter of “if” tough times happen, but “when”.

We get it, there are a ton of social platforms that are available and maintaining a social presence, let alone leveraging it, can be a very time-consuming task. Nonetheless, it can be a very powerful tool depending upon your business.

As a society, we have been undergoing a new era so to speak as Baby Boomers are retiring and Millennials are moving into the spotlight. The media has labeled Millennials as entitled, job hoppers, and the culprits of ‘killing off’ industries. Despite your personal opinion of Millennials, there is no denying that if you wish to see your business grow you should keep a pulse on trends and core desires of the Millennial generation.

Instagram is continually making updates to their platform in order to provide users and advertisers with a better experience. From the beginning of this month they have been rolling out new updates that every marketer should be aware of in order to pivot their strategy.

You have amazing products and services, but for some reason, people are fleeing from your website within seconds of visiting. You can’t seem to attract the customers that you are looking for or generate any leads or conversions.

There is no denying it we are living in the age of foodies. Studies have shown that the average Millennial eats out five times per week, giving restaurants a huge opportunity to promote and drive their business. As a restaurant owner, you have a lot on your plate. We’re sharing some inside tips and strategies that can boost your customer reach.

Technology, rules, and strategies are rapidly changing. These changes will have a huge impact on how your organization is communicating, evolving, and innovating. Below are some emerging trends that are going to boost your approach to developing a strong strategy for 2018.

Before you can sell customers on your products and services, you need to sell them on your company. You need to convince them that your business is about more than making a quick buck. The same goes for potential employees, and even media. They all connect with organizations that have a greater purpose. The way many organizations do that is by developing strong core values and culture.

Many successful CEOs, founders and executives will tell you that the secret to business growth is to hire the right people. Employees play a vital role to your business in more ways than you may realize.They contribute to company growth, not just through their performance or the work that they do but as brand ambassadors. Although it is seen as cliche, the first question that most people ask when they meet someone new is: What do you do? Our careers and the companies that we work for form a significant part of our identity.

The retail sporting goods market in the United States continues to grow and grow. Between 2009 and 2014, the industry grew from $38 billion to $44 billion. Moreover, it isn’t just the industry’s growth that makes it an incredible business opportunity; it’s also the impressive profit margins. Research shows that the sporting goods market has gross profit margins close to 40 percent.

Making a presentation is intimidating. You rely heavily on programs like PowerPoint to give your potential investors or customers insight into your business. With technology continuing to improve, there has to be a better way. Well, there is! Whiteboard videos have taken the market by storm. It is not hard to understand why. We grew up watching our teachers guide us through tough math problems, foreign words, and more during grammar school through writing on the whiteboard. These types of videos are really a no brainer. We already are automatically inclined to perceive whiteboards as a tool for learning.

It is common for entrepreneurs and business owners to get so caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running their businesses that they often forget to take a step back and evaluate what is working and what isn’t – and how that can be translated into their company’s broader marketing efforts. Whether small e-commerce sites or major multinational businesses, most businesses have a few products or service offerings that generate the bulk of their revenue. Companies need to take steps to identify these revenue streams and develop strategies to marketing to them. So, how can you market to your main sources of revenue? When developing and implementing your marketing strategy, be sure to keep the following principles in mind.